Game apparatus.



N0 MODEL.

PATENTED MAR. s, 1904. s. WHARTON. GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 28; 1903.

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Jana-65E. Wizarxtazz No. 753,946. PATENTED MAR. s, 1904.

s. E. WHARTON. GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED uu'zs, 1903. f

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UNITED STAT S l'atented March 8, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,946, dated March 8, 1904. Application filed May 28, 1903. Serial No. 159,186. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. WHAR'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State of VVash-ington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and

I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices used in playing ball games; and it consists in an apparatus which may be used for Igairlzhing, picking up, throwing,or batting the The object of the invention is to improve a longitudinal sectional view through the same. Figw3-is an end v1ew of the device, showing 7 the mouth of the same. Fig. 4 1s a cross-secti'onal view through the device. Fig.5 is a side "elevation of a modified form of my improved ball-handling device, showing the open or catching side of the same. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same. Fig. 7 is an end View of the device shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a central cross-sectional view through the device shown in Fig. 5. V Fig. 9

is aperspectiveview of another modified form of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a receptacle or shell formed with the handle 2 at one end thereof. This basket-like receptacle or casing 1 may be constructed of any desired material and is preferably triangular in cross-section, as shown in the drawings, although the same may be made quadrangular or polygonal in cross-section. As shown in Figs. 1 to 8, the frame of the receptacle consists of three bowed or curved pieces 3, of wood or other material, the inner ends of which are brought together and suitably wrapped or bound to form the handle 2, while the opposite or outer ends of each of the pieces or sections are spaced apart and united by the circular band or ring 4. This construction of the frame of the receptacle may be varied, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, by forming each side or face of the device separately by taking a piece 3, of ratan' or other suitable material, and bending the same in a loop or elliptical form and then securing these separate sides together, as seen in Fig. 9. The sides of the receptacle are cov ered, preferably, by a woven covering or lacing 5, of cord or gut, similar to a tennis-racket, in order to present a practically flat and resilient surface which may be used for batting the ball. Oneof the sides or faces is formed with an opening 6, which is partially closed or guarded by a device 7 This opening is adapted to be used in catching the ball, and the guard or closuredevice 7 as shown in Figs. 1 to 1 of the drawings, comprises two inwardly-swinging doors or gates 20, which are hinged, as shown at 21, to the curved pieces or sections 3 of the frame. These gates extend longitudinallyand leave a space or opening between them of less width than the diameter of the ball tobe used. Rubber'bands or other spring devices 22, disposed at each end of said gates, are adapted to hold the same in their closed position (shown in Figs. 1 and 4) and permit the gates to swing inwardly when struck by the ball.

23 denotes transverse bars connecting the pieces or sections 3 and arranged across the gates at each end to prevent them from'swinging outwardly. It will be seen that the ball will be permitted to enter th'eshell'or receptacle when it strikes these gates, since they will yield to allow the same to passbetween them; but owing to the tension of the sp'ring devices 22 they will immediately spring back to their normal or closed position, and thus prevent the escape of the ball as it rebounds upon striking the inside of the shell.

The guard or closure device 7 as shown in Figs. 5 to 9 of the drawings, consists in a plate 24, of rubber, leather, or other material, which is secured to the pieces or sections 3 and is formed with the resilient guard-fingers 25. These resilient fingers yield to permit the ball to pass between them and then spring back to their normal position to retain the ball in the shell.

The mouth or opening in the end of the shell or receptacle formed by the ring A is adapted to be used in picking the ball up from the ground and inthrowing or projecting the ball from the receptacle. This opening or mouth is of slightly larger diameter than the ball which is used and is provided with a contracting device8, which is adapted to partially close the opening and to hold the ball. This contracting device preferably comprises a guard-plate 9, which is hinged upon a bent portion 10 of the ring orwire A and'is adapted to be swung across the opening or mouth to partially'close the same or to engage the ball and force it against the opposide side of the mouth in order to grip and hold the ball. A spring 11 of any description-that illustrated beinga rubber or elastic bandis attached to the guard-plate 9 and to the cross-bar 23 or to the plate 2 and is adapted to hold the said guard-plate in its normal or retracted position. In order to operate this plate against the tension of the spring, and thereby contract the mouth of the receptacle, the double ends 12 of a cord 13 are attached to said hinge-plate. This cord 13 passes rearwardly through a longitudinal passage or groove in the handle and has its end attached to a sliding finger-piece or button 14 upon the outside of the handle. The movement of this button will operate the plate, as will be readily seen upon reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings. of the cord are guided upon theinside of the receptacle by the eyes 15, through which they pass.

In the operation of the invention when it is desired to catch the ball the player holds the device in such a position that the ball in coming toward him strikes the guard or closure device 7, which being flexible will yield and allow the ball to enter. To pick the ball up from the ground, the mouth of the receptacle is placed over the ball, and the sliding button 1 1 is manipulated to operate the guardplate 9, and thereby grip the ball and retain the same in the receptacle, as previously ex- The branches 12- plained. When the operator desires to deliver or project the ball, he swings the receptacle around in a circle and at the proper point releases the hinge-plate by removing his thumb or finger from the button 14, and thus permits the ball to escape through the mouth. From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in' the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted, to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle or shell provided with a receiving-opening, doors or gates hinged to said receptacle and adapted to close or partially close said opening, spring devices adapted to hold said gates in their closed position, cross-bars upon said receptacle to prevent said gates from swinging outwardly ,and an operating-handle for said receptacle,.substantially as described.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle or shell formed with an end opening, a side opening and a handle for manipulating the receptacle, a pivoted spring-actuated guard-plate in said end opening, a sliding finger-piece upon the handle,

and a connectionor cord between said plate and finger-piece, substantially as described- 3. A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle or shell. having an. end opening, a side opening and a manipulating; handle, a connecting band or ring about the end opening, a plate hinged to said band,.a

spring for holding said plate retracted, asliding operating-button upon the handle, and a flexible connection between said button, and said plate whereby said plate may be/moved to partially close said end opening,.substantially as described. 29m

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in-presence of two subscribing. wit

nesses.

SAMUEL E. ,VVHARTONP Witnesses: V

G. A. CHURCH, M. B. PO'ITS. 

